By Rick Reeno
Later tonight from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash., two former welterweight champions will collide for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title. Carlos Baldomir (43-10-6, 13 KOs) of Santa Fe, Argentina will take on Vernon Forrest (38-2, 28 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia. A crossroads battle of 36-year-old fighters looking to reclaim some lost footing
Baldomir is coming off one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. last November and somehow finds himself in a title bout. I guess exceptions can be made. Forrest has been on a three-fight win streak since his return to the ring in 2005 after a two-year layoff due to injuries. He's been away from the ring for almost a year, winning a controversial decision over Ike Quartey last August.
I know a lot of people are picking Forrest because of his past accomplishments and his minor edge in the youth department. Both fighters are the same age, but there are many who feel Forrest is a much younger 36. Baldomir has lost once in the last eight-years, to the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. Forrest has lost twice in his entire 15-year career, to the same man, Ricardo Mayorga.
Since his return in 2005, Forrest has beaten two C-level fighters and barely won a decision when he stepped up in class against an "old" Quartey.
In 2006, Baldomir was a nobody that became a somebody. He won a strong decision over Zab Judah to win the undisputed welterweight crown in January. A few months later he knocked out Arturo Gatti. He was later dominated by Mayweather in a fight most expected him to lose by a wide margin.
Baldomir was the underdog in all three bouts. Against Forrest he is once again playing the role of the underdog. Forrest looked terrible in his win over Quartey, making tonight's fight a pick-em in my opinion.
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